An old man, especially a rich old man, thinks hundreds of
ways to revive his youth. He dyes his hair black. And if he is bald headed, he
tries many hair-growing agencies. He is deceived. Still he does not learn any
lesson. He purchases a number of wigs to suit the occasion. Nut his fondness
for growing young and buoyant never diminishes. He has enough and to spare. He
wants to spend his money either in building a bungalow of his dream or marrying
a young paragon of beauty of twenty one. He has no control or restraint on him.
If he is asked to refrain from such acts of hastiness, he frowns, he gets
annoyed.
In our locality one such rich old man lives. He is touching
seventy. But he still feels young and boyish. His behavior, his manners all
will shy even a young of twenty. He is ABC. We call him XYZ. Now this XYZ has
plenty of wealth. He has no issue. His wife died long ago. Now at this mature
and old age, XYZ had a foolish idea of marrying a girl of a very young age. He
was persuaded not to indulge into this silliness, but to no effect. He was
determined for this young and insulting venture. All the old people of the area
assembled and compelled XYZ not to marry, but XYZ was adamant. He said he had
much wealth. He was issueless, so his marriage was the right recourse. He was
not prepared to listen to anyone.
The people decided to teach him a lesson. They wanted to
forestall his silly move. They wanted to outwit him. The poor XYZ was badly
deceived. He had to cut a sorry figure. He had to eat a humble pie. The poor
fellow had to lick the ground. He was made an ass (donkey) for his foolishness.
What a cruel joke was played on him. XYZ made a proposal of marriage to one
man, who is greedy and mean. He had a step-daughter. The matter was settled
between XYZ and that man. The day of the marriage was fixed. The youths of the
area decided otherwise quite against XYZ. A young and handsome boy of twenty
was dressed in the bride’s clothes. Since the marriage was a private and simple
affair, everything from XYZ’s side was secret.
XYZ along with some well-wishers made for a secret place.
Now one of the well-wishers told the youths of the time and place of this
secret marriage. The boy was taken there in the bride’s garb a few minutes
before the actual function. The step-daughter was taken away from there, even
his step-father could not know of it. XYZ was married to the boy. Those who knew
the trick, kept quiet and were grave and serious. They held up their laughter.
XYZ was over-joyous. He took his bride to his private farmhouse. He was given a
hearty send off by his new father-in-law. XYZ was in great haste to meet the
queen of his dream. He hurried to the farm.
What became of XYZ is everybody’s guess. What fate had in
stored for him is really ridiculous. The poor XYZ was let down. He was
outwitted. When he discovered the trick on his own, he was red with anger. But
what could be done at this late stage. He was humiliated. It was an open secret
that he had married a boy. He ran away to hide his face in shame. Let us learn
a lesson: The old are old. They cannot be young and vigorous. Old age’s
marriage is not less than a cruel mockery
